TN: a 2000, 2001, 2002 Bordeaux

[Ramon_NYC]

I was encouraged by recent TNs to pull early 2000s Bordeaux satellite wines from my offsite storage and do a personal head-to-head tasting. For this purpose, I decided to forego with my usual alphabetical/academic rating scale and use the numeric style that’s popular with most tasters and critics.

All wines were purchased at release and immediately stored in my offsite storage. They were all p-n-p’d:

2000 Ch. Chasse-Spleen, Moulis-en-Medoc
A very dense and dark color, just like a black plum. Smell of leather, tobacco and wood. Very young and tannic, with creamy layers that accentuated this rich, big wine. Not shy with its ripe black fruit. Mocha. There’s also that modern Italian feel to it. It’s almost like it tried to go international in style, but didn’t quite get there. 88

2001 Ch. Faugeres, Saint Emilion
A modern style Bordeaux on all counts. Oak, tobacco, and ripe fruit on the nose. Tannin and wood abound. Started out fine with earthy undertone and high acidity. But then became very forceful with its abundance of ripe black fruit. My palate seems to suggest that this has more than the 13.5 abv that’s printed on its label. Steak dinner didn’t help towards the end, as this started to get cloying. 86

2002 Ch. Sociando Mallet, Haut Medoc
It was a good thing that I requested to have one of this pulled because the bottle that was delivered showed evidence of a slight leakage. A very young traditional Bordeaux bouquet with cassis, earth, and cedar. Another tannic young wine. Lean with its fruit, but still exudes sweetness. Blueberries. Medium bodied. Lacks the vegetable notes that I associate with the producer. The most food-friendly among the 3 wines. Encouraging. 89

[Houndsong]

The Chasse-Spleen and I hit it off perhaps better than you did. But I am a modern Italian.

[Chasse-Spleen]

Ramon,
Your A, B, etc. grading scale somewhat hides the fact that you are a tough grader. I had the Faugeres 2001 sometime around release, and my impression was that it was a huge, tannic brute of a wine, very modern. So, we are in agreement on that one. Not that I disagree on the others. They sound quite plausible. Good notes. Nice experiment. Anyone try 2006 Faugeres?

-Chasse

[Houndsong]

I think Faugeres has been pretty much condemned to the "modern" slag heap. Having said that, I've very much enjoyed the 2002 and 2004 Faugeres, with or without the damning "for what they are" caveat.

I nominate myself for least disciplined/most appreciative BWEr of the Year.

[Ramon_NYC]

The Chasse-Spleen and I hit it off perhaps better than you did. But I am a modern Italian.

Signore Houndsong: I'm not condemning the wine. I liked it during release and stil like what I just had, but not as much as the one at release. I have 5 more that I intend on keeping ... and I hope those 5 are more like the one that I tasted many years ago. Ciao.

Your A, B, etc. grading scale somewhat hides the fact that you are a tough grader.

Perhaps ... but then again, perhaps not. As I was doing a head-to-head, my instinct had me grading them on a curve. Fyi, I'd drink any of these if offered to me, but I'll probably ask for larger pours of the Sociando and the CS.

[AlexR]

Ramon,

Chasse Spleen needs time.
I think it may be quite a different story in a few years.

I have a special fondness for 2001 Ch. de Fargues.
Perhaps you'll give it a 2nd chance when you come to see me sometime?

All the best,
Alex

[Harry C.]

Alex, Happy holidays! Reread the posting. It was the Faugeres, not the de Fargues. Totally different and both should be good in their way.

[Ramon_NYC]

Thanks Harry, and , yes, my bottle was the Ch. Faugeres.

Alex: Very nice of you to offer. I will gladly take you up on the Ch. fargues if/when I next get to Bordeaux.

Cheers.

[Blanquito]

I really have disliked the Faugeres I've tasted, FWIW. Not because it's modern though... because it sucked!

[JonoB]

I was not ensured by the 98 Faugeres I had, but not because it was bad, but because it just didn't flout the boat! I think I like some Cabernet Franc in my right banks on the whole unless the producer is a god!

[AlexR]

Ramon, Harry,

Jeez, you're right, I read the post too quickly. It was Faugères and NOT Fargues.

Sorry about that!

Alex

[Chasse-Spleen]

Yeah, I was a little surprised there - I didn't think Faugeres was an Alex type of wine. Thanks for the clarification.

[Ramon_NYC]

I really have disliked the Faugeres I've tasted, FWIW. Not because it's modern though... because it sucked!

Easily, and seriously, one of the better TN I've seen around.

[Nicklasss]

I agree that Faugere is kinda weird. But if you want a taste of a wine that is even more weirdo, try the Péby-Faugère...

Nic

[Ramon_NYC]

if you want a taste of a wine that is even more weirdo, try the Péby-Faugère...

Yikes! I have a lone bottle of the 2001 Peby-Faugeres that I've been holding on to. I appreciate the comment, Nic, and I will use that for something positive ... I will lower my expectations.

[Blanquito]

Funny, the one time I had the Peby bottling was one you brought to that St Emilion tasting with Arv and Dale, Ramon. I recall (distantly) that it was pretty good, and surprisingly, not overtly oaky or sweet.

[Chasse-Spleen]

I had a '98 Faugeres once, and it was really nice. I think it was after that that they went over the top.

[Ramon_NYC]

Funny, the one time I had the Peby bottling was one you brought to that St Emilion tasting with Arv and Dale, Ramon. I recall (distantly) that it was pretty good, and surprisingly, not overtly oaky or sweet.

Yep, a good remider that Right Bank wines can be very good when done right. That was a very hot summer day and I recall liking the 1990 Pavie Decesse, a Magdelaine and the 1998 Angelus (you brought?)

[Nicklasss]

I must add that my lone experience with the Péby-Faugère was with the 2003... grounded coconut all the way...

Nic

[AKR]

I've been drinking a 2000 Faugeres [St Emilion] the last two days while we're on holiday. The first night it was chewy, tannic and closed. After 24 hours it has opened up a bit, showing more fruit, and lots of sediment. There is a still a solid slab of tannin left though and it is in no danger of cracking up. Actually if anything, it might still benefit from a few more years of aging, or a good decanting (sediment is an issue). Black fruit, plums on the palate. Some baking spices on the nose. I'm glad that I packed some Bordeaux acrylic wine glasses on this trip (they look exactly like Riedels, but in plastic!) because where we're staying has middling stemware.

All things considered, I like the 98 Faugeres better than this. The 99 Peby Faugeres - which we had last month at SFEd's - is a different animal. Deeper, glossier, denser. But that bottling may not appeal to everyone. It's definitely a jacked up tete du cuvee style, although after 20 years the oak is absorbed/resolved

[Blanquito]

Incidentally, just won a few bottles of the 99 Peby Faugeres for $50 each.

You and I, Arv, had a bottle of it that Ramon (appropriately enough) brought to a St Emilion tasting in NYC in like 2007 (you brought the 2000 Figeac, I brought an Angelus, Dale a a 70’s Corbin and someone new a 2000 Monbousquet). I recalled loving the 99 Peby back then.

Reading the rest of the older thread, I see this Peby history was already covered.

[stefan]

98 Faugeres was very good IMO. I finished mine quite a while back. Has it held up? I did not see any reason to hold on to any, but I did not think it would be in decline by age 21.

[AKR]

I've had 98's recently too and they have held up very well, which is not what I would have thought for a fruit oriented wine.